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Dear Christian Friends,
Bob Hartenfeld, acting director of Lutheran Social Ministries of
Mississippi, reflects, "Marva Dawn writing in THE LUTHERAN says 'Lent
teaches us that God's hidden and mysterious way of working is through
suffering sacrifice. Lent isn't merely a season.' I looked at my home
today," Bob continues, "and tried to capture the feeling of it being blown
away. I can only imagine the pain so many are feeling on this Ash
Wednesday, 2001."
Lutheran Disaster Response, a shared ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, is responding to
a 24.7 mile deadly tornado that affected parts of northern Mississippi last
weekend. Most severely affected was the community of Pontotoc, where the
American Red Cross estimates more than 300 homes were destroyed or damaged.
There are five confirmed deaths.
An initial $5,000 grant has been provided by LDR to assist with emergency
needs, and for cleanup and recovery efforts. Presently volunteers are
cutting fallen trees, local congregations are providing shelter, food, and
other basic needs. LDR is committed to helping rebuild and restoring
dignity and life to the people of Pontotoc County and the other areas
affected.
Lutheran Social Ministries of Mississippi (Robert Hartenfeld, Acting
Director) will manage LDR efforts. Hal Shope is serving as the LDR-LSMM
disaster response coordinator. (Shope helped coordinate LDR responses for
tornadoes in Arkansas in 1997 and 1999.) An interfaith response
organization has formed in Pontotoc, and local Lutherans will participate
in that effort.
Your prayers for the safety and well being of those affected are important.
And your donations will help the church to respond, letting the disaster
survivors know they are not alone - that God still loves them, and that
God's people will offer help and hope.
Send contributions to:
ELCA DOMESTIC Disaster Response
PO Box 71764
Chicago, Illinois 60694-1764
Credit card gift line: 1-800-638-3522
LC-MS World Relief
P.O. Box 66861
St. Louis, MO 63166-9810
Credit card gift line: 1-888-930-4438
On a personal note: I am starting a two-week vacation, and will be out of
my office (and away from e-mail) until Monday, March 19. During my
absence, if you want to talk with someone about Lutheran Disaster Response,
please call Elaine Richter Bryant, associate director, at 1-800-248-1930,
extension 1392. If you want to talk with someone about ELCA Domestic
Disaster Response, please call Johanna Olson, assistant for Domestic
Disaster Response, at 1-800-638-3522, extension 2822.
Yours in Christ,
Gil Furst
GILBERT B. FURST (written on Sat, Mar 3, 2001, at 12:45 pm). Director for
ELCA DOMESTIC DISASTER RESPONSE (Division for Church in Society) and
LUTHERAN DISASTER RESPONSE (a cooperative ministry of the ELCA and LC-MS)
8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago 60631 PHONE: 773-380-2822 FAX: 773-380-2493
Please visit our website: www.elca.org/dcs/disaster
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